News

Young eagle in Commerce City eyes 4th of July flight

COMMERCE CITY — A young symbol of our country's pride and liberty made some jittery overtures Thursday toward leaving its protective parents and cozy nest near a rumbling E-470 and 120th Avenue.

But like any nervous adolescent, the bald eagle baby — by most accounts at least 80 days old — retreated back into its towering home nestled in a grove of trees to await more encouragement and a few tips from mom and dad.

The eaglet's unsteady attempts at flight left several volunteers, highway officials and bystanders uneasy about the future of the eagle fledgling.

Mostly, they hoped it wouldn't falter in the midst of its maiden flight and into oncoming highway traffic. A group of at least 50 volunteers began monitoring the young eagle early Wednesday.

The so-called "Eagle Brigade" say they are committed to rushing in and keeping it off the highway if the eaglet can't sustain flight.

The bird's supporters also fret that it would miss out on a grand opportunity and test itself on any other day besides the Fourth of July.

"It if had any sense of history, it would take off on the Fourth," said Dan Christopherson, spokesman for the E-470 Public Highway Authority.

Advertisement

"It would be something wouldn't it?" said Karen Metz, a volunteer with the Raptor Education Foundation and local eagle expert. "I think the symbolism of it taking flight on Independence Day is what's attracting so many people."

Officials with E-470 are making the eagle watch a priority. They have posted warning signs along the tollway and provided safety vehicles and safety vests for volunteers.

"Lots of staff members at E-470 are feeling very protective of this bird," said Brighton Mayor Dick McLean, who serves as E-470's board chairman. "They're putting a lot of effort into shielding it from harm, and a number of them are volunteering their free time."

The baby was hatched in mid-April in a nest formerly used by redtail hawks, Metz said. Since then, its parents take turns guarding their home and fetching their offspring meals like prairie dogs, rabbits and fish.

Although described as an "it," Metz said the eaglet is likely female since it appears larger than the dad, which is common among bald eagles. It is uniformly brown, but flecks of white appear on its wings and tail feathers.

Cathy Waters holds her granddaughter Triston Waters, 1, while Lyra Waters, 2, looks at a female eaglet who will soon be taking its first flight through binoculars along 120th Avenue near, E-470 where an eagles nest is located on Thursday, July 3, 2014 in Commerce City. (Kent Nishimura, The Denver Post)

Metz said the familiar white head will make its appearance in five years.

Thursday, the eagle's parents looked to try to coax the youngster to test its wings. The baby responded by doing a lot of flapping and taking some tentative steps toward the brink of the nest.

The bird is likely to take its first flight during the daytime. Nature suggests it leaves within an 80-day time frame.

It may fly away to live on its own or stick around with its parents, who are a reliable food source.

"But it will take weeks before she can survive on her own," Metz said. "You just never know with kids."

Still, the fledgling already has proved to be survivor.

"It's lived through snow, rain and hail," said Metz. "This is a pretty tough bird."